Lennox Carver's Story

Tantomile halted at the edge of the high roof as she heard a voice behind her. She smirked unseen. With her back to him and her hood up she said simply "You speak of what you do not understand. And even if you understood it. You would not be listening." As she spoke she walked out to the edge of the precipiece of the rooftop and stood on it. "Considering that you carried it all this time while not knowing what it is truly for, that surprises me." She kept her tone even as she spoke. her tone never wavered, as the tall Jellicle woman seemed ready to jump clean off the rooftop where she stood. Directly below was nothing but thick woods. She apparently had nowhere to run. Or did she ?

"Before you go darting off again, the reason it has sentimental value to me is that it is my only memento of my wife, now dead, killed at Stormreach. I'm a quick study. Enlighten me. I already know that it is something called a 'piece of eden' whatever that means" said Lukas.

Tantomile never turned around to face the man speaking to her. A quick learner, he'd better be. He stood out like a sore thumb while he carried the Piece of Eden on him so much. With it properly wrapped in a dark linien cloth. "Then you know enough, but do be careful where you speak those words." She said.

Then she said a simple word to the large male. "Follow." With that she pushed off the roof and performed what was known simply as a Leap of Faith off the high roof, it was a perfect swan dive. Directly into the water below. Though where she went from there was anyones guess.

Zosimos smiled, whispering into the ear of a guard. The spectacle had unfolded quite nicely, if you liked spectacles. Star ships had come down, the town had assembled and armed itself. Diplomats were demanding other diplomats! Armieshad showed up, allies and enemies glared at eachother through technology.

"You seek my blood?" The guard dispatched into Tauvyr Tavern. Zosimos slowly folded his arms, as if it wasn't chaos and turmoil around him.

"You forgot to say please," He grinned, "More importantly you forgot to provide paperwork. No grand-kin of mine is taken by any, especially foreign, force without a warrant or trial. Who...are you again? I don't believe we've ever met, though I do remember the mess you made over there, in our neighoring city to the North. Wing City?" He looked to Ix next.

"This one has already provided you with more than enough information. What is it exactly you seek? As my dear Brethren has suggested already," Zosimos flicked a hand in the direction of Caine, "Perhaps you should just go home."

The Commandant turned to his adjutant, and then he turned to Yuriko. "We don't need paperwork, we have big guns." He said in broken english. The Commandant crossed his arms in front of his chest and then he glared at Zosimos. "We have questions for them, now we can make this easy, and they can come quietly, or I can contact my superiors and we can... explore alternate options." The Commandant explained, Yuriko crossing her arms as well while he turned to Cain.

"We won't fight for this planet, as you say it's worthless for us, worthless planets aren't committed too, they're bombarded into oblivion from the safety of space." The Commandant warned, then he turned back to Zosimos. "And pardon our introduction, I'm Commandant Yosho, of the Taiyou Empire. And you would be wise to heed our demands."

From the shoulder of the King Oni, Xyntha leaned boredly on her hand. "So much talking, and nobody really seems to be saying anything..." she murmured, rolling her eyes with a sigh.

The demoness glanced to one side at the head of the large mech. "You must be bored too." she said dryly, leaning back.

Tommy and the NPA Enforcers, and the Terran soldiers stood their ground. Listening to the words from the Taiyou commander, "Are we really going to keep humoring this?" The Scottish soldier asked Zosimos, "This is your land, we'll follow your lead. But, this will become a fight as soon as they open fire." Tommy added.

The men and women on the ships hovering over the flashpoint began to arm their weapons and prime their shields. There was going to be a fight, there was no doubt about it when it came to the Taiyou. Those in space did the same, everyone was mostly in communication.

They had a plan.

Ships began to deploy from other areas of the planet, big and small. NPA ships, Invictus ships, Terran military ships, who knew who else was getting involved once the news began to spread? There were surely going to be some anti-Taiyou vigilantes or terrorists trying to join into the fray.

If they were lucky they wouldn't be shot down by both sides.

"History's repeating itself, I think it needs to diverge for once." Tommy told his allies.

Ix laughs at the mention of an orbital bombardment but otherwise says nothing. Instead he turns to Zosimos and gives him a big wink.

Terrific thought Lukas sarcastically as he followed her.

Zosimos smiled even wider. Big guns apparently clouded the minds of these people. He thought of an old colleague if his who had once said weaponry was like vampyrism. It seeped into a man's blood, corrupted him.

"Demands?" He said it delicately, as if the word would shatter on too harsh a tone. "Any questions you have can go through me, and I will handle the necessary processes. Considering..." Zosimos eyed the guns with harsher vigor, raised a brow and smirked. Behind him, the doors to the Tavern bustled open. Out was escorted Daemala Tauvyr, a grouping of ten vampyric soldiers occupying her presence for protection.

"What the hel-" Daemala nearly shouted, then realized exactly what was going on. Her words were swallowed.

"It's good you won't fight for this planet. If it's as worthless as you say, surely it isn't even worth your destructive weapons, or your time. Why are you still here again? Ah! That's right!" Zosimos turned to Daemala, who had shrunken in on herself in shock. "These people have questions for you!" He smiled the wickedest of smiles.

After a few moments of silence, staring around at everyone, Daemala gathered her spine. After nodding at her allies, she gestured a hand at the Taiyou, at all the forces she didn't recognize, and spoke.
"Excuse me but...Who are these people?"

Zosimos grinned, and looked to Tommy and the NPA officers.

"No, I don't believe we shall be humoring this any longer."

The Commandant nodded. "No I don't think we shall, you're in luck, though As it seems we won't be burning this town to cinders." He said, an Imperial radioman approaching from the rear, and whispering something to the Taiyou Commandant in their native language. "We'll be in touch, however." He said, turning back to the Sudden Transport and moving towards it, Yuriko turning to follow suit.

Engines began to churn and grumble, and the column of Taiyou began to move, taking a sharp left to the north to exit the town. Imperial Warriors marched in step while Sergeants called out to them to march. The King Oni's footsteps began their rhythmic song as they, the Tanks and helicopters began to move through the town.

A video screen within the Sudden Transport flickered to life, and Admiral Yamamoto's face bore crisply on the display. "Prince Takayama has elected to assign the ISSP to the investigation, they're a bit more subtle in their methods, and shouldn't attract the attention of the Invictus, whom the Prince also plans to address at a later date." The Admiral explained, the camera panning towards the young Prince.

"The Organization has displayed their defiance long enough, and will be dealt with like all enemies of the Empire, but this situation is delicate and one we must approach with caution. I intend to address them once I've addressed the Aschen and the Coalition." The Prince explained.

"Move out, and proceed to your next objective. There are Aschen holed up in the mountains to the north of your position. Destroy them and all collaborators, no prisoners, no survivors. Prince Takayama out."

The collective forces of the NPA, Terrans and Invictus watched as the Taiyou began to leave. Tommy lifted a hand to his right ear, "They'll be around." He said, speaking into some form of communication device. "They won't be leaving soon, they're too fuckin' stupid to actually do anything that makes sense." The Scotsman said.

"Orders?" The bridge captain of Tommy's ship asked, "Beam me up, Scotty!" Tommy said, "Don't... don't do that." The bridge officer said.

The ships and vehicles in the area began to head back to where they were before for the most part, a helicopters deciding to circle around the perimeter of Verinotte Hollow in case they'd be needed again in the future. Who knew if the Taiyou would return? It was better to have eyes in the sky.

It took some time, some ships and soldiers lingered for awhile, but eventually everyone was on their way to where they were stationed before being called down. It was back to business as usual.

For now.

As the Taiyou and Terran Armies moved out of the area so did the Joes. Troops loaded onto transports and the Massive tanks were loaded onto their carrier trucks. The Convoy formed up as it made it's way back toward the mountains. Ben sat in the command vehicle and looked over the glum reports. Would Terra ever be peaceful would there ever be a day the Joes felt it was safe enough to recind their support and move on to help other worlds in need? This was one of the questions that raced through his mind lately. Though deep down he knew this place would probably be the death of him. He would eventually just become another casualty in the blood bath.

The Drones over head still flew about gathering intel on the movements of Troops while a few attack helicopters and fighter/bombers flew above the convoy.

In the Pit Allen sat at his desk, the Joes had finally made it back up to full strength after that tragic attack on their previous base. Allen sighed, how long would this last before they were dragged into a conflict. The fighting never ended never ceased. El was dead lost off world in a terror attack. It was Ironic to die in something they tried so hard to fight. But her mission was quiet the opposite she died in a terror attack while committing one of her own. Allen saw this as fate a sign he ordered it they Aschen were not their friends but now he regretted it. To him it seemed clear the Aschen were on the outs and Taiyou seem to be the latest threat in the galaxy. Maybe it was time to disappear, dissolve the Joes let the others fight for themselves. Though deep down he knew that was not the answer. He wasn't fighting for power or political reasons, he was fighting for the innocent, the children disabled those he could not defend themselves and for all those lost in these senseless conflicts.

"Armarx, this is Lennox Carver of the NPA." Lennox said over the channel, "I advise you not to go for the downed chopper. Our men and women on board were able to get to safety, we don't know if the crash attracted more of those.... things down there." Lennox told the mercenaries.

"You don't want to get caught in the middle of that shit." The NPA leader added. Lennox watched the chaos as he stood atop his APC, eyes searching for the downed helicopter and any sign of trouble around it. He didn't know the Armarx mercenaries, but they were on his side.

Couldn't let them go in blind.

Above a large cargo place could be heard out of the back dropped a supply pallet that landed in the street.

"God Dammit." Will muttered under his breath he took out a comm link, "Attention All forces in the area this is Will Jackson our supply drop fell off target and we are going to retrieve it, we are moving into the street." Will said as he abandoned his sniper rifle for an M4 carbine. He raced down the stairs with half of the Team. Soon they were at the barricaded door. He looked to the window and kicked aside the hastialy placed wood. "Who ever forgot to secure that is getting demoted." He said as he climbed out the window and into the street. He began to fire at targets there was already a swarm around the supplies.

A Joe came up behind will wielding a flame thrower and began to shoot concise bursts at the small mob. Will added his own fire. "Grab everything I'm not going to blow this stuff it's too valuable in this fight!" He said as he heaved two M2 browning's over hos shoulders and began to slowly make his way back to the building. The other joes provided covering fire clearing the mob. After the supplies were carried back Will made sure the Browning's were set up along with other weapon systems.

"Mortar's pick your targets with care I don't want any friendly or civilian casualties." He said. Will took over command of a browning on the roof and began to fire at a group of cyborgs running across the street. "Your suppose to wait for the White man!" He shouted over the steady gunshots.

Lennox watched silently as rockets and jets flew over the city, what was left of the city after that display. The NPA leader was fuming, if this were a cartoon one would see the steam coming out of his ears. This wasn't like that at all, this was serious. Who knows how many people, citizens, police officers, tourists, were also caught in those blasts?

"Sir, are you alright?" One of the Black Badge soldiers asked Lennox, "I'll be alright when I have the fucker commanding jet strikes on my fucking city receiving an enema from me personally with a fucking assault rifle!" Lennox yelled, "Open up channels with these assholes!" Lennox barked, "Now, damn it!"

"Channels open, sir. One of our people down the road is with one."

An NPA Enforcer approached Ben, offering the man what looked like small radio. On the other end was Lennox yelling all kinds of insults and obscenities. "My foot will go so far up their asses they'll be shitting my laces for a week!" The Black Badge commander was yelling.

"I mean it!"

“Carpenter Actual this is Six One come in -- oh sonuvabitch -- Carpenter Actual come in … Oooooh damn.”

“Radio’s out!”

“Shut the fuck up Carth -- “

“God hates us!”

“Shut up!”

An engine growled as the 32 ton armored fighting vehicle overcame a small overturned sedan by an overran checkpoint. Crushing the small que lines, and the rabid mobs scrambling around them, the car alarm started a chain reaction of the desertec ars along street with the lone A96 Claymore slogging its way through a packed crowd. A few meters behind the armored turret of the AFV four marines stood in the roof hatches slinging weaponry from the hip, and a symphony of small arms and grenade fire sounded across the street as the Claymore finally crushed the small guardhouse and plowed its way through a hastily erected fence.

“We’re leaving, fuck Carpenter Actual!”

“Over there Bellandini look, that one’s got a suitcase!”

“Shut the fuck up and shoot them Vittoria!”

Corporal Bellandini and Specialist Vittoria exchanged a quick fist bump as Loris prepared the next box of ammunition in the S1-9 machinegun. Pulling back the bolt Bellandini looked back to Corporal Loris putting away the empty box magazine, and he made a thumbs up to Loris as he spoke. “Ready to shoot, you get pictures of the funny ones now!”

Loris shrugged off Bellandini and turned back to the GL-50 grenade launcher in front of him. Cradling the automatic weapon into his shoulder he slung the barrel sideways and depressed the trigger, a deafening whump coming from the weapon before flowering explosions sent fragments of glass and debris into the air.

“I’m pretty sure we took a wrong turn in the first place -- this is most certainly not a frozen custard stand.” Corporal Artur slid himself back down into the hatch, wielding his AR-98 like a club as he pinned one of the squirming zombies head against the turret with the butt of the rifle. “God dammit, Sergeant Patrissimo, fucking kill this one please!”

The response was the turret slowly turning sideways: suddenly pressure built up and the zombie’s skull was crushed in a brilliant burst and spray before the snub-nosed 76mm infantry gun mounted on the fighting vehicle let out one single burst. An overran police car line was thrown away from the lone marine vehicle as it continued to trundle up and over the bodies, down and across the cars in front of it. The ride was bumpy.

“Specialist this is a legitimate concern for me … now, when we were in basic training and they told us to “never ever, under any circumstance, regardless of any situation,” combine the Whiskey Papa flare shells with our hand grenades -- Some bullshit about ‘international law’ right?” Loris turned over to Specialist Viorel, duct tape in one hand and the other sporting an improvised device. He put the roll of tape around his wrist and then tilted the standard issue GK-4 infantry grenade, colloquially known as a ‘stick bomb’ amongst the marines and the Coalition Apparatus. Taped around it with several bands of silver duct tape were smaller, self contained road flares commonly used by emergency forces to illuminate traffic accidents. When marines put it right next to a hand grenade and threw it it burned.

“ … I’m pretty sure that’s a legitimate law, yeah.” Specialist Viorel stopped for a split second in thought as he reloaded the S1-9. “As a matter of fact yes, absolutely, I remember specifically them saying that now.”

“Well as a marine, I am instructed to adapt and overcome any obstacles in my way -- what appears to be a bad zombie rave at the moment.” Loris used another few straps of tape until he smacked the improvised incendiary grenade against the dull metal of the fighting vehicle and yanked out the tiny draw string that activated the fuse. “Now time to make some barbecue!”

“Holy shit that’s not a standard issue grenade -- Loris what the fuck is that?!”

“Fourwhiskeypapasandastickbombtapedtogetheritsonlygotatensecondfuze!”

Just as the Claymore crawled up and over another abandoned sedan an explosion sent a bright light of flame roiling up through the buildings and over the roofs; dying flame burned red hot for an instant as it raced into the air and a boom from the explosion echoed out around them.

"Air's getting awful crowded up here," Jayden muttered as several jets soared in front of him, littering fire down into places that he would never have considered pulling the trigger on for the risk. He patched himself into the radio, "I'm coming down! Getting too difficult to get a clear shot with my big guns on anything from up here without risking friendly fire."

Swerving around, Jayden guided the fighter ship through the city and away, setting down a safe distance away from the fighting in the street and climbing out. He took a moment to peer around the area, determining that the zomborgs were nowhere near reaching the place yet. "So help me, if any of those motherfuckers so much as scratch your paintwork..." he muttered to the Eclipse, locking it down and setting up a proximity alarm.

Hefting a plasma rifle, Jayden set off on foot to join the barricade, "If anyone's got a spare helicopter I could call driver's seat on, that'd be totally awesome," he half-joked into the headset.

Ben watched as air support flew over head taking too many close shots and taking out friendly's. "Dammit Command Call of the Jet's are you fucking mad?!?!" He shouted into his commlink back to Joe command. Who ever was commanding air assets was going to get a big fat demotion. He was then handed a radio with a screaming commander. Ben managed to get a chance to speak. " Sir I offer a fully apology and I will take fully responsibility for these actions. We seemed to have had a miss communication with our airsupport I have pulled the plug on them." He said. "We will pay for any damages and also pay reparations to any wounded or dead." He said much softer. "On another note it's good to finally talk to someone from your side we have been trying to get in contact for hours. If your willing to give us another shot we are willing to take on what ever task you need I have 80 commandos and 6 tanks at my disposal." He said, "I've also deactivated our remote mines to render them inoperable." He finished and cringed for a response.

Will kept firing into the hoards of Zombies as he covered the retreat for the mercenary forces. He watched what happened with the fighters. This was not like Joe protocol something was going on. But he knew now wasn't the time to worry about it that would be for another day. But this was the second time something went wrong first the parachutes now this? Once this all blew over he was going to have to do some digging.

The space above Terra suddenly rippled with light as a small task force made an FTL Jump. The ships ran no markings and transmitted no national signals. John Malcolm stood on the bridge of her corvette. "All ships accelerate to full speed were going to have a rough planetary entrance." She stated as her flight officer nodded. "Aye Aye Captain Full thrust engaged." Her ship was usually bare inside but it was packed with weapons, munitions, military supplies & medical supplies.

John looked at the scanners she knew this was risky there were only a few dozen ships mostly freighters and a few faster corvettes. This was just a small response to a call from one of their subsidiaries. If this group was caught though they would have to take this missions details to their graves. "Prep flares I don't want to doubt their response time. Remember the plan use the bulkier freighters for cover." She added as she made final preps on her flight suit, her emergency helmet was donned they weren't taking any chances with this mission. Finally she looked up. "Patch me through to their fleet command." She added.

A comm officer nodded, "Your clear Captain." He said. John took a deep breath as she opened the channel. "Attention Terran Fleet, Mayday Mayday, We are coming in hot, we are suppose to deliver medical supplies and humanitarian aid to Wing City! Please hold all hostile action!" She shouted into the commlink. She knew this was a desperate bid but she hoped with everything going on, on the planet below this action would be put on a low priority.